The Smithsonian Carousel

We had our first spin about 10 years ago with Grandma and Grandpa Urmston. We had Isaac, and Jaida. Here we are 10 years later with three additions: Kaylin, Landon, and Marissa. My, how things change with a blink of an eye.




The Crusaders watched the young Arab men play games on horseback called “carosella” or “little wars”.

Sir Reginald and his fellow knights would practice on wooden horses that were supported by a central pole suspended from a beam. With the help of the knights’ strong squires, the horses could be moved up and down on the pole, simulating a real ride. The knights could improve their agility without tiring their horses.

The carousel in Washington D.C.was built in 1947 by the Allen Herchell Co. It was previously partner with the Armitage Herchell Co. in 1873. The Allen Herchell Co. was a major employer in the community of North Tonawanda. The factory complex in North Tonawanda is one of the last existing complexes in the United States which housed the production of wooden carousels. It once housed 50 to 75 carvers(from Denmark, Germany, Russia and Italy), a woodworking shop, a paint shop, a storage area, an upholstery shop, a machine shop and a roundhouse in which carousels were assembled and tested before shipping. Carousels from this company were shipped throughout the United States and Canada, as well as to all parts of the world, including South Africa, India, Tahiti, and Mexico. John Wendler owned it in the 30's. It moved to Buffalo, NY in the 50's and was eventually sold to a rival manufacturer of amusement rides Chance Manufacturing of Wichita, Kansas.

148 hand carved carousels still exists today in the U.S. This particular carousel was built in 1947 located in Baltimore MD. It was moved in 1981 to D.C. This one replaced a 1922 worn-out carousel.

After WWII the carousel making industry slowed down due to the need of the carvers and engineers. Carousels are a piece of American History thanks to the 13th century Arabian Crusaders. Not many years after Sir Reginald completed the tournament (and won), wood carvers began to create ever more beautiful and intricately carved horses. They created small carousels that were actually made to turn by real horses tethered to the carousel and walking in a circle around it. You didn’t have to be a chivalrous knight to brave the carousel anymore. Anyone could take a spin!